Why did Catherine II accept partitions of Poland?

[Vinthund]

Hello,

Since this is my first post here is a word about me: I am Polish, I live in beautiful town called Toruń http://www.torun.pl/portal/main/index_en.php.

And now to my question:

Since the Northern war Peter the Grat got whole Rzeczpospolita (Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania) under Russian control de facto. For example it was Russian army who "secured" election of Polish kings in 1733 and 1764.
Surprisingly Russia did not decide to keep control over whole Rzeczpospolita, it instead decided to partition this country between Russia, Prussia and Austria (in three turns: - 1772, 1793 and 1795 - see maps at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish-Lithuanian_Commonwealth#History).
Why did Catherine II decide to do so? At first glance it seems contrary to Russian interest - to have part of Rzeczpospolita instead of entire country.

In Polish books (just a few of them, not a detailed research) I found following explanations:
1. Russia was ruled by Germans and that influenced its policy towards Prussia.
2. Partitions were good for many private persons in Russia (eg Orlov, Zubov - Catherine's lovers)- they could acquire more private property consequently to confiscates of Polish- and Lithunanian-owned land. This influence turned out to be stronger than the good interest of whole Russia.
3. Catherine was so afraid of French revolution that she was willing to help Prussia (which was at that time at war with revolutionary France), and sharing Polish land with Prussia was a way to help them.

What do historicians in Russia say about it? Or maybe in other countries? What is your opinion?

regards

vinthund

[felix]

I look at it very simply,it was a land grab. They Russia,Austria,and Prussia wanted to expand their Empires at the expense of Poland.  Just as they had  taken over other countries.

[Vinthund]

well, I understand this "land grab", but since Russia controlled all of Poland what made Catharine II share it with Prussia and Austria? This is the point of my question.

mv

[felix]

I dont think Russia did at that point. Poland was divided between the three countries. Russia got the lion share. There is a  cartoon of Catherine,Maria Theresa,and Frederick cutting Poland Up. Prussia and Russia wanted to keep Poland weak.Austria supported Poland,until Austria was invited to participate, in  the  partition of Poland.

[Alexandra]

Dzien Dobry!

Some of it also has to do with the then King of Poland, Stanislaus Poniatowski, who had been Catherine's second lover as Grand Duchess. His mother's family, the Czartoriskis, had had a pro-Russian policy for years, and Stanislaus himself loved Catherine with a lifelong adoration, which somewhat eclipsed his perception of the needs of his native land. Poland's own internal chaos, as manifested in the Sjem, had made it very vulnerable as well to outside control.

Since Poland was also a stepping-stone for the Ottoman Empire (decrepit though it was) in its attempts to access Europe, Catherine's Polish policy had to do with shoring that land up with the aid of those she considered in the best possible position to defend Russia. She also had no desire for France to annex Poland; and France was at odds with Austria.

Further reading about Stanislaus Poniatowski: Adam Zamoyski's book entitled, _The Last King of Poland_.

Bog Zaploc!

[kenmore3233]

If Catherine hadn't acted to take her share of Poland, then Austria and Prussia would have divided Poland amongst themselves.

If Prussia and Austria had swallowed all of Poland themselves, then those powers would have been strengthened relative to Russia, which is something no Russian ruler would have permitted to happen.

It was important for Russia to keep its borders with Prussia and Austria as far to the west as possible. It was better for Russia to have that border redrawn in what was formerly central Poland, as opposed to having the Austrian and Prussian borders drawn along Russia's ancient frontiers. Hence Russia's participation in the partitions.

As to why Russia didn't swallow all of Poland itself, the answer is that if Russia had tried to do this, it would have become embroiled in a major war with Prussia and Austria, which was something Russia wanted to avoid.